Prior authorization delays have grow to be extra widespread in radiation oncology and have contributed to abandonment of radiation remedy, adversarial results, and loss of life in vital numbers of most cancers sufferers, in line with outcomes from a brand new survey of radiation oncologists by the American Society of Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).
Performed within the fall of 2024, the ASTRO survey of over 750 radiation oncologists discovered that 92 p.c reported delays in therapy as a result of challenges with prior authorization. Thirty-three p.c of the survey respondents mentioned these delays have led sufferers abandoning radiation therapy and 30 p.c famous adversarial occasions, starting from emergency room visits to everlasting incapacity.
In response to the ASTRO survey, 7 p.c of radiation oncologists indicated that prior authorization delays contributed to a affected person’s loss of life.
A current ASTRO survey of over 750 radiation oncologists discovered that 92 p.c reported delays in therapy for most cancers sufferers as a result of challenges with prior authorization.
“These survey findings verify what radiation oncologists witness each day: prior authorization insurance policies are failing folks with most cancers, inflicting avoidable delays which can be harmful and, in too many circumstances, lethal,” emphasised Howard M. Sandler, M.D., FASTRO, Chair of the ASTRO Board of Administrators.
Sixty p.c of the survey respondents mentioned prior authorization challenges have “elevated drastically” within the final three years and 68 p.c of radiation oncologists famous the typical prior authorization delay is 5 days or longer, a rise of 16 p.c from an identical ASTRO survey performed in 2020.
Along with adversarial results in affected person care, survey respondents famous the influence of prior authorization delays on employees. Challenges with prior authorization led to reallocated employees time, in line with 80 p.c of respondents. Fifty-seven p.c mentioned navigating prior authorization considerably worsens employees burnout.
Forty-nine p.c of respondents cited inadequate transparency from insurers on the prior authorization assessment course of. Emphasizing the necessity for a “real-time course of for protection selections,” Dr. Sandler is hopeful that the present ASTRO-supported invoice “Enhancing Seniors’ Well timed Entry to Care Act of 2024” (S.4532, H.R.8702) will have an effect in addressing the problems with prior authorization delays.
“We encourage Congress to behave now to assist finish these life-threatening delays and put Medicare Benefit on a path towards transparency and accountability by passing this laws earlier than the present session ends,” implored Dr. Sandler.
